Virgil A man with shoulder-length white hair, wearing a white tank top covered by a black leather jacket was awoken by the taste of sand in his mouth. He stood up and brushed himself off. Looking up, he saw he was on some sort of island or beach which was connected to a dense-looking forest in the distance. He wasn't sure how he got here, but he decided not to worry about that and enjoy his time here.

"A druid? No, no, nothing so magically adept. You're spot on with your next assumption however. I'm a member of the Ranger's guild. Been one since I was about sixteen." Jacque said as he reached out and touched the soil gently. The ranger brought his hand back and sniffed some of the dirt slightly before brushing his hand on his pants. James' digging was getting them closer to the swamp faster than he'd originally thought, impressing Jacque a bit. "As for keeping the peace, well, I do what I can to help. And yourself? You don't seem nervous, nor particularly arrogant, so you're clearly not that new at this, how long have you been a Slayer?".

Amos upon the old chair, but not really as he was only a spirit who didn't have a body, so he was more just suspended on it. His power was returning in that old room with the silence that was deafening. Somewhere deep down he reminisced about the touch of the sun but it was quickly replaced with an insatiable hunger for chaos. He looked at the gem upon its pedestal and came to realize that it was a curse if anything, or a demon was in it. The corpses seemed to scream that something nefarious had happened here long ago. He turned his mind back to his dark ent and the ramification of such an act of corruption. Would it spread? Would it die easily? So many questions, but he would have to wait for the answers, for now he needed to recharge a bit more.

"Oh a ranger is it? I've worked with your guild before quite a few times. Helped me to track down quite a few nasty creatures until I learned to properly track my quarry for myself. Good folk, the rangers." Jovial and warm was her tone as she hopped over a small hole with a clatter and a grunt. She was not beginning to tire, but rather beginning to bore of walking. The torch was making her sweat in her plate, and the dark of the cave was almost oppressive. "I now realise that I would have preferred to have taken the surface, but I guess we get there either way." She muttered to herself before concentrating her attentions on Jacque's question. "I began my training young. Three and ten years if I remember correct," She brings up her sword-hand and looks to count over her curled fingers for a moment before nodding, "Yes, three and ten. This wretch we are moving towards had already ruined my village and my family, so I asked the waves for guidance. They pushed me to the Slayers. I hid away in one of their caravans and when I was found out, I begged them to train me to hunt monsters." She chuckled lightly, a bubbly but gruff sound. "I took to it like a bird to the air. Found that it was the one thing that I was truly exceptional at. Soon enough I was leading parties, training recruits of my own and hunting the big game. Dragons, Hydras, Giants and the sort. I was well on my way to becoming one of the Purifiers and taking the hunts a step further when I caught wind of this disgusting creature on the rise once more, so I requested leave to hunt it for myself. Now I'm here." She takes a look up the tunnel and growls in annoyance. "By the depths, how much farther until I can see sunlight again!?"

"I prefer the darkness myself, but then again I am half vampire."

Arin and Ace continued to explore the forest while playing a game of 'I spy'. As he was doing that, Arin was also keeping a look out for anything suspicious as he knew someone would try to pick a fight with him eventually. Ace looked around for something to use for his little 'game' and said, "I spy something brown with leaves on the top." Arin smiled while shaking his head in amusement. "A tree." He replied in a simple manner. ____________________________________ Price moved a little bit closer to the triplets and Aniram, hoping one of these people would notice him. Then again, he could go the other route and attempt a greeting. He decided to go with the latter and waved at them. Virgil decided to find out if there were others stuck here and if he was right, he would have two questions for whoever came up to him.

"Oh a ranger is it? I've worked with your guild before quite a few times. Helped me to track down quite a few nasty creatures until I learned to properly track my quarry for myself. Good folk, the rangers." Jovial and warm was her tone as she hopped over a small hole with a clatter and a grunt. She was not beginning to tire, but rather beginning to bore of walking. The torch was making her sweat in her plate, and the dark of the cave was almost oppressive. "I now realise that I would have preferred to have taken the surface, but I guess we get there either way." She muttered to herself before concentrating her attentions on Jacque's question. "I began my training young. Three and ten years if I remember correct," She brings up her sword-hand and looks to count over her curled fingers for a moment before nodding, "Yes, three and ten. This wretch we are moving towards had already ruined my village and my family, so I asked the waves for guidance. They pushed me to the Slayers. I hid away in one of their caravans and when I was found out, I begged them to train me to hunt monsters." She chuckled lightly, a bubbly but gruff sound. "I took to it like a bird to the air. Found that it was the one thing that I was truly exceptional at. Soon enough I was leading parties, training recruits of my own and hunting the big game. Dragons, Hydras, Giants and the sort. I was well on my way to becoming one of the Purifiers and taking the hunts a step further when I caught wind of this disgusting creature on the rise once more, so I requested leave to hunt it for myself. Now I'm here." She takes a look up the tunnel and growls in annoyance. "By the depths, how much farther until I can see sunlight again!?"

"Thank you for the complement, not everyone tends to see eye to eye with us rangers. Your tragic circumstances aside, you sound as if you're doing quite well for yourself madam Slayer. And impressive tale indeed." Jacque stated as he idly pulled a spearmint leaf from his pocket, popped it into his mouth, and proceeded to chew it, filling his nose with the crisp scent. He wasn't quite sure if Priscilla could smell it yet given how much sharper his senses work than the average humor, but the hole that was being dug was beginning to smell of damp, rotting foliage, typical of many swamp regions. "I think it's about time we surfaced, dragonspawn. We don't want to come up inside the swamp itself, remember?" Jacque loudly called up ahead to James, his deep rumbling voice echoing down the tunnel like the sound of rolling thunder in the distance. After giving James a heads up, he contemplated pointing out the fact that Priscilla had said "three and ten" rather than thirteen, however given the fact that he'd also witnessed her physically counting out the number with her fingers, he held his tongue, surmising that books smarts weren't really the Slayer's strong suit. For now Jacque would let it be, however he made a mental note to teach her how to properly count if it became a hassle in the future.

"I prefer the darkness myself, but then again I am half vampire."

"The darkness does hold several advantages to it, however there are flaws in it as well. The same could be said of any environment really. Given your heritage it's no surprise that you'd prefer this sort of environment, but never forget that one should strive to be able to adapt to any location they find themselves in."

Apparently, James had gone ahead of them, far ahead of them, and finished the tunnel, so he came walking back in human form. "The tunnel is done. We're about 50 yards from the swamp."

(Still in his lair) Hunter grinned once he thought up a plan and sent the first shadow creature he caught to find the one called Arin. He looked at the other ones and told them that they would all get a turn. ______________________________________________________________ Virgil decided to venture the forest a bit and went further down the woods once inside. _______________________________________ Price walked away from the triplets and the girl(Aniram) since they didn't seem to acknowledge him. He ventured off into the forest and wondered if he would find someone there. ((Don't notice the shadow yet, I'm doing something))

Apparently, James had gone ahead of them, far ahead of them, and finished the tunnel, so he came walking back in human form. "The tunnel is done. We're about 50 yards from the swamp."

"That is true, While I may have certain advantages in the darkness it is important that am able to to fight and survive well in any situation and/or circumstances."

Apparently, James had gone ahead of them, far ahead of them, and finished the tunnel, so he came walking back in human form. "The tunnel is done. We're about 50 yards from the swamp."

Jacque stopped and nodded approvingly and sniffed the air again, detecting the scent of peat moss and stagnant water up ahead, "You're quite the adept digger, dragonspawn. If I didn't know it was you I would've assumed that a wurm had dug this hole, well done." he said before swallong the mint leaf in his mouth and producing another one to chew on. "Now, before we surface, I should warn you lot of what dwells within the swamp.", Jacque reached out to the side and grabbed a fistful of dirt, "The soil in the swamp is not like the soil you'll find at the beach or in the forest. It's extremely muddy and sticky, and will start to suck you down if you stand in one place for too long. In some spots the muck will be a bit deeper than others, if you get stuck do NOT struggle, you strength will only cause you to sink quicker. You'll find that the spots were the muck is deepest with have a series of bubbles from trapped air pockets coming to the surface.". Jacque dropped the soil and dusted off his hands, "The next issue will be the plant life. There will be any number of dangerous plants, like razor grass, noose vines, or thorn bushes, and even a few berry bushes that produce poison fruits and attract all manner of dangerous insects with their flowers. Speaking of insects, unlike the larger animals that were smart enough to flee, these creatures will still be around, and without their predators milling about, they'll be out in full force. These are creatures that are loaded with extremely toxic stings and bites formed by years of defending themselves from predation, so try to avoid them if you can. Lastly, if you hear a loud buzzing sound or see what appears to be a black cloud approaching, run as quickly as you can or duck under the water for as long as you can. That "cloud" will be a swarm made up of a particularly nasty species of fly native to this island. If they catch you they'll burrow into your flesh and drain you of your blood, and that's if you're lucky. If you're not, they'll end up drinking enough to incapacitate you, then lay eggs inside your body. The larvae that hatch are prone to digging into bone to feed on your marrow rather than just blood or tissue. If that happens it'll take weeks to die, and it'll be agonizing every step of the way. I've seen this first hand, and personally, i'd sooner slit my own throat than sit through that.". Jacque let his words hang in the damp air as he stared down each member of the rag tag group.

Priscilla stepped from the tunnel and smiled, feeling the open air upon her face. Her revelry was cut short by the smell of moss, stagnant water and rotting plant matter, a dank scent thick in the air that hit her in the back of the throat and made her stomach budge slightly with disgust. She looked to the dragonspawn and nodded curtly, "Well done, Dragonspawn. You'd make a fine miner, I'd wager. Still would have like to walk the earth on its surface, as the Maker intended, but we are here now. I have no interest in complaining." After a bash of her fist on her breastplate out of small respect, she turned to Jacque and pushed the scent of the nearby swamp from her mind, trying to take in all of the sage advice that he doled out. "I see. So in short, we have man-eating mud, man-eating insects and more man-eating mud before us. And we are to wade through it all before we reach the dragon itself?" She grinned, the prospect of danger exciting her and spurring her heart on even more. "I am to believe that the beast itself resides in the centre of the swamp itself?" In the back of her mind, she could still taste the scent of something malicious on the air, just as before. Rotting plant and brimstone, smog and smoke. Her fingers felt as if they were punctured on all sides by needles, and her eye felt fit to leap from her skull, prompting her to rub it slowly as she gazed at their surroundings. Something was here. Something unnatural. She tightened her grip on Verschlinger and gave it a small practice swing before pointing towards the swamp with it. "If so, then I guess its to the centre of the swamp we go."

Apparently, James had gone ahead of them, far ahead of them, and finished the tunnel, so he came walking back in human form. "The tunnel is done. We're about 50 yards from the swamp."

Jacque stopped and nodded approvingly and sniffed the air again, detecting the scent of peat moss and stagnant water up ahead, "You're quite the adept digger, dragonspawn. If I didn't know it was you I would've assumed that a wurm had dug this hole, well done." he said before swallong the mint leaf in his mouth and producing another one to chew on. "Now, before we surface, I should warn you lot of what dwells within the swamp.", Jacque reached out to the side and grabbed a fistful of dirt, "The soil in the swamp is not like the soil you'll find at the beach or in the forest. It's extremely muddy and sticky, and will start to suck you down if you stand in one place for too long. In some spots the muck will be a bit deeper than others, if you get stuck do NOT struggle, you strength will only cause you to sink quicker. You'll find that the spots were the muck is deepest with have a series of bubbles from trapped air pockets coming to the surface.". Jacque dropped the soil and dusted off his hands, "The next issue will be the plant life. There will be any number of dangerous plants, like razor grass, noose vines, or thorn bushes, and even a few berry bushes that produce poison fruits and attract all manner of dangerous insects with their flowers. Speaking of insects, unlike the larger animals that were smart enough to flee, these creatures will still be around, and without their predators milling about, they'll be out in full force. These are creatures that are loaded with extremely toxic stings and bites formed by years of defending themselves from predation, so try to avoid them if you can. Lastly, if you hear a loud buzzing sound or see what appears to be a black cloud approaching, run as quickly as you can or duck under the water for as long as you can. That "cloud" will be a swarm made up of a particularly nasty species of fly native to this island. If they catch you they'll burrow into your flesh and drain you of your blood, and that's if you're lucky. If you're not, they'll end up drinking enough to incapacitate you, then lay eggs inside your body. The larvae that hatch are prone to digging into bone to feed on your marrow rather than just blood or tissue. If that happens it'll take weeks to die, and it'll be agonizing every step of the way. I've seen this first hand, and personally, i'd sooner slit my own throat than sit through that.". Jacque let his words hang in the damp air as he stared down each member of the rag tag group.

"Now is as good a time as any to have the natural armor that scales provide."

Arin kept walking through the forest, but then stopped all of sudden. Ace looked curiously up at him before slowing to a stop himself. "Why have we stopped walking?" He asked. Arin looked around and then at the dog. "It just feels like we've been walking for hours." He answered before going into deep thought. We should have ran into something by now. He shrugged at this before moving again. Or I least 'I' should've. (XD) Ace nodded, finding it true. However, he wanted to play around more. "Can I run around for a bit?" He asked.

"That would be the long short of it, yes. There are very few things in fae swamps that aren't deadly." Jacque said as he drew his short blade and examined it before sliding it back into the sheath. The ranger eyed Zecurst and nodded, "Indeed. Your scales will provide a nice means of defense, but take care to ensure that nothing crawls into your nose or ears. It's a devil of a time trying to remove something living from your nasal passages, I know that from experience." he said whilst repressing a small shudder. Jacque looked at the group before him, they all seemed more than capable of handling themselves, so this didn't seem as though he'd have to watch over them, "Let's be off then, yes?" he said before making his way top side.

"That would be the long short of it, yes. There are very few things in fae swamps that aren't deadly." Jacque said as he drew his short blade and examined it before sliding it back into the sheath. The ranger eyed Zecurst and nodded, "Indeed. Your scales will provide a nice means of defense, but take care to ensure that nothing crawls into your nose or ears. It's a devil of a time trying to remove something living from your nasal passages, I know that from experience." he said whilst repressing a small shudder. Jacque looked at the group before him, they all seemed more than capable of handling themselves, so this didn't seem as though he'd have to watch over them, "Let's be off then, yes?" he said before making his way top side.

"I'll keep that in mind"

"Let's be off then, yes?"

Priscilla nodded and drew her shield from her back, holding it at the ready as she trudged into the swamp. The sound of buzzing insects, croaking frogs and the sloshing of still bog water became all that she could hear as she set foot onto the slushy, drowned soils. Her eyes swept over the environment, taking in all that she could and remaining alert. She could feel a great presence, the sense of unknown weight that she felt on her mind whenever she was drawing close to the end of a hunt. She repeatedly adjusted her grip on her blade, the pins and needles almost unbearably present. Her footsteps were careful, testing the occasional patch of mud with the tip of her blade to check if it is safe to walk on. "Let us move quick. I itch to exact my vengeance and rid with world of this creature."

James sniffed the air as he walked with them. "He's straight ahead," he said. "I can smell him. If we keep going straight we'll make it to him."

Once on the surface once more, Jacque's nose crinkled as the smell of stagnating water and rotting foliage hit him in full force. The air was hot and humid, sticking the ranger's clothing to his body with moisture almost immediately. He felt mud squelch beneath his boots, sucking his feet a few inches into the mud before he had the chance to pull them free with a bit of effort. It was at this moment that Jacque remembered why he disliked traveling through swamps. "Well given the stickiness of the muck we're standing in, it's not likely that we'll be able to sneak up on the beast. A pity, frontal assaults can be risky when the opponent has the advantage.". Jacque slowly slid his left foot forward and experimentally pressed into the mud, ensuring that he wouldn't sink in too deeply before stepping down and repeating the process with his right foot. The ranger continued with the somewhat awkward method of locomotion, ignoring the feeling of water soaking his pants and flowing into his boots as he made his way deeper into the swamp.

"How did I even end up here?" Shari had her hands together as she looking for a way out of the forest she ended up inside. The girl didn't even remember how she got here in the first place. One minute she was getting out of work and talking with her friends, then she followed something that caught her eye. The next she ended up in this weird forest. Her tail was tucked and wrapped around one of her legs, as she wondered if she would ever get back home.